But before we get to that fantastic pudding pie I have an announcement.

Sweet Kisses and Dirty Dishes was never intended as 1. a food blog 2. to be more than a hobby. But, lately I have been posting more and more recipes, and they have been received well.

One of the ways I remind myself to enjoy myself in the kitchen while cooking around multiple special dietary needs, is to write about the food. After writing Much Ado About Chicken, I realized I really love doing it. And after all the positive feedback I got, I decided I should be doing it.

Thus, the idea for Worth Cooking was born. An allergen friendly food blog that focuses on natural, delicious foods.

And now, as promised:

A custard-style chocolate pie that is free of eggs and dairy. Perfect for chocolate lovers!

Ingredients

4½ teaspoons gelatin

10 T water

3 cups coconut milk (the creamier the better)

1⅓ cup sucanat

6 oz baking chocolate

1 teaspoon vanilla

¼ teaspoon salt

Pie shell or crumb crust for a spring form pan (optional, I did a cookie crumb crust with gluten free cookies and coconut oil)

Instructions

Mix together the gelatin and water. Let sit at least ten minutes.

Slowly heat the milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Meanwhile, chop the baking chocolate. Whisk the chocolate pieces and sucanat into the hot coconut milk until heated. Add the gelatin/water mix and whisk while cooking over low heat for a minute or two.

Strain the chocolate mixture into a bowl to catch any clumps of gelatin that did not dissolve. Add the salt and vanilla.

Let the chocolate mixture come cool off at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.

Pour into a spring form pan over a crumb crust, into a deep dish pie shell, or even in 6 small ramekins for individual servings. Cover with cling wrap.

Last year we decided we were not going to have sugar in the house. Not necessarily that we would not eat sweets, just not ones with (granulated) sugar. We used honey and some date paste, but that was about it. To be perfectly frank most decisions I make for the new year do not last super long, but this one we kept with, with a few hiccups, for about six months. We finally decided to stop when we had to cut dairy, eggs, nuts, gluten, and soy out of our diet. It was just one “odd” thing too many. We bought a 50 lb back of sucanat (a more natural form of sugar with the molasses still in it).

This year I am trying to lose the weight I gained with and right after having Valerie. Honestly, I am really frustrated with it as months of different things has all yielded nothing. But, two thing I am clear on I am trying to cut back from sweets in general and I am exercising with fit2b.us*

*I love this program and am definitely an affiliate for it! If you want to check it out and use it use my affiliate discount code SKADD when signing up to get $10 off a three month subscription.

When things gets complicated food wise (such as needing to go on ANOTHER elimination diet, even if not as strong as the first time we did it) I tend to bake a LOT more. The theory is I might as well try and enjoy it. Between that and the beginnings of a baking book, I have just been having too many sweets.

Tips For Cutting Back On Sugar

This is not my first time on cutting back on sugar in general, we have in the past cut it out fully (including honey and maple syrup). While I am not rushing to do that again, I did learn a thing or two. I wrote a post for Homemaker’s Challenge with my 7 Ways to Cut The Sugar.

Healthy Gingerbread Ice Cream

Along that same vein, I also wrote a post for a treat we have been having a LOT. Healthy “Ice Cream”, made from Bananas. You have probably heard of it, but this is a special version full of the spicy, winter-y goodness of gingerbread. Read that here.

Have you ever cut back on sugar? What are some tips you have? What are some treats you still eat?

Hello! I am Debra the creator of Sweet Kisses and Dirty Dishes, and frequent receiver of those kisses and creator of those dirty dishes. I blog about what I learn day by day about being a daughter to the king of kings, helpmeet, mother, and homemaker. We are a christian, homeschooling, natural minded, real food eating, debt free living (now) family. Read More.